Soprano saxophone



'Nov. 2 1,926. 1,605,101

H. E. DREYES SOPRANO SAXOPHONE Filed July 12, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1H'EDREVE? Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,605,101 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY EJDREVE S, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE H. N. \VHITECOMPANY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

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Application filed July 12',

This invention relates to an improvement in musical instruments, andmoreparticus larly in a soprano saxophone, a musical instrument of. thereed, type. As usually constructed the soprano saxophone is made in twoforms, one commonly called a curved model and the other a straightmodel. I

The curved model embodies a bow or bend in the body at its lower end andabell. In the curved model the bendfat the lower end causes thesound-vibration to travel unevenly and the tone leaves the saxophonewith a mu'iiled sound. Also, the bow or curved end of the saxophoneobstructs the air passage and makes the instrument hard to play as wellas interfering with the clearness of tone. Another objectionable feature is the presence of tone holes in the curved or how and bell part ofthe curved instrument, such tone holes making an uneven air column asthe sound-vibration travels around i the bends. The curved instrument isalso too short to hold in a restful position while sitting, and in usingthis instrument the bell opening can not be held conveniently at theproper angle to deliver thetones direct and true to the audience. 7 p

The straight model is used in preference over the curved model byprofessional musicians because it has a clearer and truer tone than thecurved model, due to the fact that the air column, comprising the neck,the body, and the bell, is built in a straight line with noobstruct-ions. Notwithstanding the straight Saxophones in use also havetheir objections and disadvantages. For example, where a musician mustface his audience while playing, the straight saXophone must be heldhorizontally in an up lifted position in front of the face, which placesthe wrists and arms in a cramped position, and makes the instrument verytiresome to hold and play. A straight soprano instrument cannot besupported effectively by a neck strap and it is very difficult to holdwhile playing open tones. Another objection to the straight saxophone isthat the musician cannot rest his fingers and wrists, while playing in asitting position, by supporting the bell end of the instrument upon hisknees or lap. If he attempted to support the end of a straight sopranosaxophone in that way he would partially close the bell end and dlrectthe 1924. SerialNo, 725,745.

sound into his lap, which woulddeaden the 10f the instrument in aparticular way so that the musician can face his audience while playingand still permit his wrists and arms to remain in a natural, restfulposition. Moreover, the present construction of the neck, body and bellallows the instrument to hang or be held vertically close to andparallel with the body of the user, and permits the bell opening to bedisposed perpendicularly so that the tone will issue unmu'flled, and beclear and true and projected in full directly toward the audience. Also,the design and construction of'the instrument permits the musician torest the bottom edge of the bell on his knees or lap while playing theinstrument in 'a sitting position, thus relieving the operator of theweight of the instrument. In addition, the structural form of thepresent instrument also permits a neck strap to be used if desired, tosupport and control the instrument in playing the open tones.

A further object of my invention is to provide a straight tapering bodyand a curved bell, without a bend or reverted por tion in the body, sothat all of the tone holes may be placed in the straight body of theinstrument. In this way the air columnis smooth and true, that is, alarge volume and true tone is produced as the air column leaves theinstrument; and because the plane of the bell opening is perpendicularand parallel with the instrument body the tone is delivered directly andsquarely to the audience. Moreover, by making the full length of thetapering body straight instead of curved the instrument possesses therequisite length to place the edge of the bell in a natural restposition upon the thigh or knee of the musician; therefore, theinstrument is exceptionally easy to support and operate while the playeris in a sitting position.

is a front view of the instrument resting in an upright position uponthe thigh of an operator.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the instrument. Fig. 3 is a front View,and Fig. 4 a longitudinal section of the instrument.

The invention comprises a main body 2 which is tubular and graduallytapered on straight lines from end to end. In a soprano saxophone, body2 must possess a given length to produce the acuteness or gravity ofsound or tone'desired, and in the present instance the body is madestraight its full length to permit all of the tone holes 3 to be made ina straight tapering part of the instrument and not in a bend. By makingbody 2 straight its full length I may also utilize a short curved bell 4without tone holes at the enlarged end 5 0f the tapered body, and theplane of the bell opening 6 may also be placed parallel with the axis ofbod ang es and forwardly in a horizontal direction while the operator isplaying and holding the instrument in a vertical position. To facilitateplaying of the instrument in this manner the mouth piece 7 is supportedupon a short tapering extension or neck piece 8 which projectsrearwardly and upwardly from the smaller end of body 2 at an inclinationof approximately forty degrees from the vertical or longitudinal axis ofthe body. The neck or extension 8 contains a single tone hole 9 andcarries a key 10, but all the other tone holes 3 are contained instraight body 2 and all of the other keys 11 are mounted upon thisstraight body, together with all the associated shafts and operating andcontrolling devices that are commonly used in that connection. A ring 12and a hook 13 are also fixed at the rear side of body 2 to permit astrap to be attached and used 2 so that the sound will issue at right.

if desired. The curved hell 4 be used to support the instrument upon thethigh of the operator in playing the instrument while 7 he is sitting,as delineated in Fig. 1, and the sound or tone may issue in full volumesquarely to an audience and without being muffled when the instrument isbeing used in that way. The operator is also relieved of the weight ofthe instrument and has perfect freedom of action and control of all thekeys, and the operator may also sit erectly and face the audiencewithout bending or inclining his head. In brief, the operator is enabledto play this instrument freely in a natural and easy posture and itimposes no physical burden upon him in playing for prolonged periods oftime.

WVhat I claim is:

1. A saxophone, comprising a tapered bore straight bodyprovided withtone holes, and a bell afiixed to the larger end of said body,determining the lowest tone of said saxophone, and extending atsubstantially right angles to said body.

2. A saxophone, comprising a taperedbore straight body provided withtone holes, and a'bell affixed to the larger end of said body,determining the lowest tone of said saxophone, free from tone holes, andextending at substantially right angles to said body.

3. A saxophone, comprising a taperedbore straight body provided withtone holes, a bent neck secured to the smaller end of said body, amouthpiece secured to said neck, and a bell aifixed to the larger end ofsaid body, determining the lowest tone of said saxophone, and extendingat substantially right angles to said body.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY E. DREVES.

